Ambrosia Maple Box

I’ve been having a couple pieces of 3/8 ambrosia maple hanging around the shop, and I finally decided to put them to use. I usually like to dovetail my box corners, but since this was pretty thin stock, I decided to do miters.

As a surprise bonus, a few coats of wipe-on poly revealed a nice curl to the wood that wasn’t really visible on the unfinished boards.

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43 comments so far

Yowsir! That’s one beautiful box. The base is great, the top to sides joinery is splendid. And those crazy beetles made some wonderful changes to that curly maple. Can you share more construction details? Interior shots?Charlie you are one of my favorite box-makers. And as some know, I like small wooden box-makers! (Small homage to Don!)

Speaking of Don, I imagine he will be along shortly. He will no doubt be all over this one!

Thanks, Doug. Yeah, Don was the first person I thought of when I posted this one. <g>

My standard box-making techniques is to cut and join the four sides first. In this case I was able to wrap the grain artound the box to some degree. Then I glued on a top and bottom a bit oversized, and trimmed flush on the router table. Ont the top, I just finished with a 1/4” roundover bit. After that, I cut the box into two halves on the table saw. This makes for a good fit, but it always gives me the willies worrying about pinching the blade and having a kickback. Just in case, I always stand clear.

For the base, I started off with one piece of stock about 3/8×4 x 42. I ripped it down to 1 1/4”, then rounded it over on one side. Then I cut that into the four sides of the base, making sure my miters fit right. To make the scallops on the base symmetrical, I used double-stick tape to join the opposite sides, cut a rough design on my small bandsaw, and touched it up with a sanding drum in the drill press.

Finally, I glued the base pieces on just high enough to cover the 3/8 thickness of the box bottom. After about 4 coats of poly, I installed the hinges and catch.

I ordered an assortment of box hardware from them a while back because the prices seemed really good. The stuff is not the highest quality in the world (plated, and not extremely smooth), but good enough for most applications, and dirt cheap compared to Rockler and some of the other well-known sources.

Great box Charlie, I love small boxes too, you know. Never used to, but I’ve come to appreciate them more and more through Don. I think he appreciates a fine box too. Really though that is beautiful. I got to try one. jockmike

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -

OK, guys, you know how much I love small wooden boxes; and who can blame me when we have beautiful creations like this one. Nice job, Charlie.

Now, can we look inside?

Do you have any concerns about wood movement with the top being glued to the top sides?

The box jewelry looks OK in the pictures, but if it’s plated, it sometimes take some time before pitting starts. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen at all. I came to the conclusion a few years back that purchasing high quality hinges, clasps and escutcheons was worth the extra money. I once gave a beautiful box to a friend and when I saw the pit marks on the hinges made the decision then to source Brusso hardware only.